Love's Unexpected Awakening Elowen's Choice novel Chapter 487

As Elowen followed the thread of it further, her thinking sharpened into something clean and decisive, each step leading naturally to the next. "We start with the arrowheads. Check the manor's armory records and any smiths who supply them. Find out exactly who could have handled that kind of work, then trace it back. If we follow it far enough, we'll find proof that clears His Grace."

There was another gap in the matter, one that involved Dominic, the Deputy of the King's Works.

Elowen had learned that from Scarlet, but with Piers and Sylvia present, she chose not to bring it up yet.

Sylvia stood to the side, watching her closely, something in her expression quietly shifting.

She had once thought her sister-in-law gentle to a fault, even a little naïve. Within the walls of a household, their mother would never have been able to outmaneuver her, that much was obvious.

But this was different.

Elowen handled matters that brushed against court and law with the same steady ease, laying everything out as though she had done it a hundred times before.

Sylvia felt something tighten in her chest.

She wanted to become someone like that.

"If there's anything you need from me," Piers said, his tone firm, "just tell me. I'll take care of it."

Elowen inclined her head. "I appreciate that."

With the matter settled for now, she rose and took her leave.

After leaving Falconcrest Manor, Elowen had the carriage turn toward Cloudmere Lane.

Her aunt was there, and after hearing what had happened at Duskmoor Manor, she would surely be worried.

And beyond that, the bookshop's affairs had always been handled through Anson and Finn. With trouble breaking out now, Finn was unlikely to be at ease, and she wanted to see it firsthand.

They had not yet reached the shop when the carriage slowed, then stopped.

Noise carried through the street, loud and restless.

Mira leaned closer to the door. "Your Grace, something's going on ahead."

Elowen pushed the carriage door open just enough to look out.

A crowd had gathered.

Right in front of Finn's shop.

With the door open, the voices became clearer, sharper.

"Everyone knows this shop answers to Duskmoor Manor. People kept quiet before, but now the Duke's been accused of killing a Nordian envoy and taken into custody. Why is this place still allowed to operate?"

"All they sell are scandalous stories, filling young people's heads with foolish ideas about love and defiance."

"That's right. My daughter used to listen to everything we said. She's only fifteen, and after reading that Ode to Springlight, she refuses the match we arranged. Now she says she wants a post in the royal household."

"Shut it down. This shop has no business staying open."

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